First Lady of American Espionage - Agent 355

To entertain myself, I've started to look for stories of American women who have affected our history, for good or bad. I want to feature occasionally those women who we didn't read much about in our history books. That brings us to the story of Agent 355.

During the American Revolution General Washington needed reliable information about British activity in and around New York. A clandestine group called the Culver Ring provided the information he needed.

Alexander Woodhull, a farmer from Long Island, was the chief of this group. His "spy name" was Samuel Culper, Sr.  His most important agent was a dry goods merchant, Robert Townsend, went by the name of Samuel Culper, Jr.

Agent 355, known within the group as just "355", was a member of a prominent Loyalist family. This gave her unrestricted access to British political and military leaders in the New York area.

Major John Andre, the debonair head of England's intelligence operations in New York, kept company with many available Loyalist ladies. "355" took advantage of this, attended the parties he gave, kept the ale supply flowing, and listened carefully to the conversations he engaged in under the influence of the ladies and the ale.

It is now believed that "355" was the common-law wife of Robert Townsend. When Townsend learned that "355" was carrying his child, he begged her to stop her dangerous espionage work. She refused, knowing that the information she was providing was important.

It surely was important. The information she passed on led to the arrest of Major John Andre and he was hanged as a spy on General Washington's orders. It also exposed the treason of Benedict Arnold in the surrendering of West Point for a British gratuity. The traitorous Arnold gave her up to the British after Andre's arrest.

In October 1780 she was captured by the British and held  under foul conditions on the prison ship Jersey, moored in the East River. While a prisoner there, she gave birth to a son she named Robert Townsend, Jr.
She died soon afterward.

Over 230 years after her death, no one knows for sure her true identity. She remains an unsung heroine in American history.